National Lemonade Day

The story

Lemonade has been around since ancient Egypt, but Lemonade Day began with a simple wish. When Lissa Holthouse wanted a pet turtle, her father, Michael, said no, they already had too many pets. Determined, Lissa decided to earn the money herself by selling lemonade. Her entrepreneurial spirit inspired Michael to create National Lemonade Day in 2007, teaching kids about business, financial literacy, and goal setting.

Lemonade stands have long been a beloved American pastime, but where did this tradition begin? Lemons likely originated in India around the 1st century AD, spreading through trade routes to the Middle East and Southern Europe. By the 13th century, people in the Mediterranean were squeezing lemon juice into water for medicinal purposes, though it probably wasn’t sweet!

Lemonade arrived in America with European settlers in the 1600s, but lemonade stands didn’t become popular until the Industrial Revolution. They soon became a way for children to learn leadership and money management while selling a refreshing summer drink.

Today, National Lemonade Day’s tagline says it all: Teaching Kids the Power of Entrepreneurship. Over 250,000 children now participate each year, turning lemons into lessons.